News from Seattle's Office of Economic Development

On Saturday Mayor Mike McGinn and Chinatown-International District Business Improvement Area (CIDBIA) board member Tuck Eng unveiled the first of several bilingual street name signs at the 2013 Dragon Fest, the Chinatown-International District’s summer festival. The first sign, located at the corner of Sixth Avenue South and South King Street, is being installed as part of a neighborhood wide program in Seattle’s historic Chinatown and Japantown. Over the summer, translated street name signs in English and Chinese, or English and Japanese will be added to over thirty intersections through a partnership between the CIDBIA and the City of Seattle.

“These signs will help us celebrate the ongoing diversity of the Chinatown-International District, as well as help people navigate the neighborhood,” said Mayor Mike McGinn.

The CIDBIA worked with over 100 neighborhood stakeholders, fifteen family associations, local ethnic media, the University of Washington, and translators from the Seattle Municipal Court to translate the existing street names into traditional Chinese and Japanese. Neighborhood stakeholders identified translated street name signs as a way to recognize the historic significance and culture of the neighborhood. With the installation of the bilingual street name signs, the project provides a historic reminder of the populations that built the community. It also aids in preserving the CID’s identity and supports wayfinding.

“Not only is the [street sign installation] a wonderful reflection of the neighborhood’s rich cultural history, but a reflection of the international hub that Seattle has become.” says Executive Director of the CIDBIA, Don Blakeney.

Mayor Mike McGinn joined staff from the Office of Economic Development and representatives from Seattle’s neighborhood business districts to announce the City’s $1.6 million investment in 17 neighborhood business districts across the city.

The investment was announced at Maya’s Mexican Restaurant in Rainier Valley. Neighborhood business leaders from Ballard, Beacon Hill, Capitol Hill, Chinatown/ID, Columbia City, Georgetown, Madison Valley, Pioneer Square, Rainier Beach, Rainier Valley, South Park, University District, and Wallingford spoke about the projects and exciting visions for their neighborhoods.

“Seattle’s neighborhoods are one of the reasons we attract talented people and growing companies,” said Mayor McGinn. “That’s why investing in our dynamic neighborhood business districts is critical to our overall economic vitality.”

A large portion of the funding went to neighborhoods that have developed comprehensive, multi-year strategies, in which the city is investing a total of $727,000 in 2013. Which breaks down as:

Beacon Hill $ 57,500

Capitol Hill / 12th Avenue $100,000

Chinatown / International District $168,500

Columbia City $ 65,000

MLK (Rainier Valley) $ 76,000

Pioneer Square $100,000

Rainier Beach $ 65,000

University District $ 95,000

“I’m excited that the city is investing in the three major business nodes of the Rainier Valley: Columbia City, Rainier Beach and Othello,” said Susan Davis, Executive Director of the Rainier Chamber of Commerce. “This funding will help ensure that we can bring business leaders together to maximize the potential of each of these major business areas.”

“Ballard is a great place to live, work, shop and play. As a result, we are bursting at the seams. The Only in Seattle grant allows us to assemble community stakeholders – from retailers and restaurants to industrial businesses, major employers and Ballard residents – and create a unified vision for commercial revitalization that makes sense for Ballard today and in the future,” said Scott Ingham, Co-President of the Ballard Chamber Board of Directors.

OIS is also investing $115,000 to support focused investments in additional neighborhoods, Focused investments will be made in these neighborhoods: Ballard, Georgetown, Madison Valley, and South Park.

This year, $450,000 was also granted to neighborhoods for capital improvement projects that enhance the commercial district experience. In 2013, those neighborhoods are:

University District

Pioneer Square

Chinatown/International District

Roosevelt

Pike/Pine Corridor – Downtown

“In the Chinatown/International District, we’re pleased to continue our façade program and clean and safe activities, and we’re especially excited that the Only in Seattle funding this year was expanded to include infrastructure projects,” said Joyce Pisnanont, IdeaSpace Manager at Seattle Chinatown International District Preservation and Development Authority (SCIDpda). “For us, we’ll be able to continue our work on Maynard and Canton Alley, which are two alleys of major cultural significance to our neighborhood that have been priority projects for a long time.”
Other Program Highlights – The Only in Seattle funding will also include approximately $300,000 that will invest in the following programs.

The city will continue the Only in Seattlemarketing campaign in 16 neighborhoods, which highlights the hidden gems of shopping and dining in Seattle’s neighborhoods (Also on Twitter and Facebook).

The city also will invest to build strong business-focused organizational capacity to sustain the efforts of neighborhood business districts in Capitol Hill / 12th Avenue, Central Area, MLK (Rainier Valley), Georgetown, Roosevelt, Wallingford and White Center. Support for Business Improvement Areas (BIA) will occur in the following neighborhoods: Capitol Hill / 12th Avenue, Chinatown/International District, Madison Valley, Pioneer Square, and University District.

Support a façade improvement program in the Chinatown/International District to develop and improve three façades through the business community.

OED will fund and manage this program in partnership with Impact Capital, a Seattle-based community development financial institution serving underserved communities throughout Washington.

“The Only in Seattle program is a great complement to the city’s neighborhood planning efforts that have happened throughout the years,” said Council President Sally Clark. “These investments help the major players in neighborhood business districts execute concrete steps towards a common vision.”

The Office of Economic Development (OED)’s Only in Seattle Initiative (OIS) is a partnership with Impact Capital, which supports investments in neighborhood business districts, and focuses on the following strategies to create healthy business districts:

Business and retail development (supporting businesses, enhancing business mix);

Marketing and promotion (events, social media, district advertising);

Clean and safe (graffiti removal, dumpster free alleys, lighting);

Streetscape and appearance (catalytic development projects, façade, public art); and

Business organization development to sustain the effort, including participation of an existing Business Improvement Area (BIA) or commitment to form one.

More information can be found in the Press Release from the Mayor’s Office.

Only in Seattle Sunday shines a much-deserved spotlight on small businesses in Seattle neighborhoods by offering the public great shopping deals through partnerships with businesses in participating neighborhoods.

The next event will be held in the Chinatown/International District neighborhood on Saturday, November 24. Other upcoming Only in Seattle events will bring special offers to Pioneer Square businesses on Thursday, December 6 (in conjunction with Pioneer Square’s First Thursday), and to Georgetown on Sunday, December 30. This initiative is part of the City’s continued push to encourage discovery and exploration of neighborhoods in Seattle.

“Buying gifts or experiences locally during the holidays is a great way to support our neighborhood businesses,” said Mayor Mike McGinn. “I hope that people will explore and support the unique stores and restaurants that we’re featuring in the Only in Seattle campaign.”

Only in Seattle Sundays in Chinatown/International District on Saturday, November 24

To view and redeem the monthly Only in Seattle Sundays deals, shoppers can download or print the Only in Seattle Sundays day-pass, available at http://www.onlyinseattle.org/ois_sunday.html. They can also download the free Chinook Book mobile app and present their print or electronic proof of participation at participating businesses. Additionally Seattleites are encouraged to follow Only in Seattle on Facebook and Twitter, where the City’s Office of Economic Development (OED) will be giving away prizes from select neighborhood businesses throughout the month.

Listen and Watch for Only in Seattle during the holidays

The Office of Economic Development is excited to announce three partnerships to further the reach of the Only in Seattle marketing campaign.

In an effort to publicize the Only in Seattle initiative and promote local neighborhoods, CBS Radio Seattle (KMPS-FM, KZOK-FM, KJAQ-FM & KNFQ-AM) is proud to announce a partnership with BECU. CBS Radio Seattle is creating an interactive marketing program that encourages audiences to “find the hidden gems” in our area. The campaign will be featured on CBS Radio Seattle starting December 3. CBS Radio and BECU will also support local community events involving Only in Seattle.

Traveling on Virgin America during the holidays? Be sure to look for our Only in Seattle video segment on Virgin America flights coming in and out of Seattle on the RedHOT travel video series, which features the hottest, hippest and best in the airline’s destinations and reaches over 1 million airline passengers per show. The Only in Seattle video will be featured for five months, from November through March.

Though a partnership with Chinook Book, all Only in Seattle deals for Chinatown/International District, Pioneer Square, and Georgetown will be available to all Chinook Book mobile app users. While the printable day-pass from OnlyinSeattle.org is good for one day only, the Chinook Book app extends those great Only in Seattle deals for 30 days. The Only in Seattle Chinatown/International District Chinook Book deals are valid November 24 through December 24. A free version of the Chinook Book app is available through the App Store and Google Play.

For the past two years Only in Seattle has captured the essence of Seattle’s neighborhoods and shared the unique stories behind each of the featured businesses. With Only in Seattle Sundays the campaign’s “buy local” mission is brought to life beyond the Only in Seattle website, www.onlyinseattle.org, by inspiring people to take one day a month to discover and explore a new neighborhood or businesses they might not experience otherwise.

Today, the mayor joined neighborhood business district leaders and local business owners at Big Time Brewery & Alehouse in Seattle’s University District to announce a $1.1 million investment in 19 neighborhood business districts as part of the Seattle Jobs Plan.

“Our neighborhood business districts are a critical economic asset. Their diversity and strength is a part of what makes our city special,” said Mayor McGinn. “The dollars that the city invests support projects that make an immediate impact in our neighborhoods, and they also serve as catalysts that bring neighborhood business district leaders together to organize and create a shared vision for long-term revitalization strategies, which will help our city’s overall economic recovery.”

Small businesses employ 72 percent of Seattle’s workforce and contribute 35 percent of the city’s business tax revenues, totaling $55.4 million. Our local neighborhood business districts serve as the location and incubators for many of the city’s small businesses. The Seattle Jobs Plan specifically targets investment in Seattle’s neighborhood business districts.

“As a business owner, I know that investments in our business district help us do more to improve our business environment and support our local businesses,” said Don Schulze, board chair of the University District Chamber of Commerce and owner of Shultzy’s. “I’m excited about this investment in our University District business to help us, the business and property owners, get organized around a shared vision for the future of our neighborhood.”

The Office of Economic Development (OED)’s Only in Seattle Initiative supports investments in neighborhood business districts, and focuses on the following strategies to create healthy business districts:

Business and retail development (supporting businesses, enhancing business mix);

Marketing and promotion (events, social media, district advertising);

Clean and safe (graffiti removal, dumpster free alleys, lighting);

Streetscape and appearance (catalytic development projects, façade, public art); and

Business organization development to sustain the effort, including participation of an existing Business Improvement Area (BIA) or commitment to form one.

The local business communities in these nine neighborhoods have developed comprehensive, multi-year strategies, in which the city is investing a total of $844,000 in 2012.

Capitol Hill / 12th Avenue $128,000

Central Area Main Streets $ 72,000

Chinatown / International District $185,000

Columbia City $ 66,500

MLK (Rainier Valley) $ 83,000

Pioneer Square $120,000

Rainier Beach $ 55,000

University District $ 70,000

White Center $ 64,500

In addition, the city is investing $142,500 to support focused investments in additional neighborhoods, as well as the Only in Seattle marketing campaign and business organization development.

The city will expand the Only in Seattle marketing campaign, which highlights the hidden gems of shopping and dining in Seattle’s neighborhoods (www.onlyinseattle.org). The following neighborhoods will join the Only in Seattle marketing effort: Fremont, Pioneer Square and Wallingford.

The city also will invest to build strong business-focused organizational capacity to sustain the efforts of neighborhood business districts. Support for Business Improvement Area (BIA) formation will occur in the following neighborhoods: Ballard, Belltown, Capitol Hill / 12th Avenue, Madison Valley, Pioneer Square, SODO, and West Seattle.

“The city is focused on helping business and property owners to strengthen local business climate and grow jobs,” said Steve Johnson, director of the Office of Economic Development. “Through the Only in Seattle Initiative we have created an investment framework and partnerships to execute strategies to support healthy business districts.”

In addition this year, the city is investing $100,000 in three neighborhoods for façade improvements: Columbia City, Central Area Main Streets, and Chinatown/International District. This investment was matched with $142,764 in private dollars. These improvements directly impact the continued revitalization of the neighborhood business districts and support ongoing business attraction and clean and safe strategies.

“The City’s investment in the Viet-Wah façade with a new awning and improved lighting will help our customers feel welcome and safe while they are shopping,” said Duc Tran, Chairman, Viet-Wah Group in Little Saigon. “Helping our business districts look and feel clean and professional help attract a mix of businesses and companies, increase our customer base and in turn, expand our bottom line.”

OED will fund and manage this program in partnership with Impact Capital, a Seattle-based community development financial institution serving underserved communities throughout Washington.

OED also partnered with the Seattle Department of Transportation this year to better understand the purpose and patterns of travel by visitors in various neighborhood business districts by conducting an intercept survey of visitors in six neighborhood business districts.

“From this survey we were able to gauge important patterns of customers in the district, including how long they were staying, and what other services they were looking for,” said Shelley Morrison, chairman of the marketing committee of the Columbia City Business Association. “We will use this data to improve our marketing and business attraction efforts. It’s the kind of research we couldn’t afford to do on our own, but is greatly beneficial, especially when we can compare ourselves to other neighborhoods.”

Next Monday is the start of the Year of the Dragon, and Chinatown/International District will be celebrating all week! Starting this coming Saturday, January 21, the New Year will kick off with an opening celebration at the Wing Luke Museum from 10 am to 8 pm. The celebration will include a pow-pow-pow of firecrackers, drums, and a Lion Dance. Children may enjoy a scavenger hunt and coloring contest with over $1,700 in prizes! More info about opening celebration and Year of the Dragon at The Wing can be found here.

Fuji Bakery, located at 526 South King Street, has perfected the art of fusing the French pastry with Japanese flavor. The second of two bakeries, Fuji opened its Chinatown/International District shop in 2009. The combination of European-style baking and Japanese-style tastes allows for the creation of irresistible delights such as the green tea cookie bread or the brioche Japan.

The success of the bakery, its reviews, and its loyal fan base from around the city tell a lot about the character of Akihiro Nakamura, the owner. Whether helping raise funds for earthquake and flood relief for Japan, or helping with the revitalization efforts in the Chinatown/International District, Aki is always looking for opportunities to lend a hand. Aki was also a valuable contributor to the early planning stages of the Office of Economic Development’s Only in Seattle grant program, and has regularly participated in many other events.

The Seattle public has a great new way to connect with the Chinatown/International District neighborhood and to find exciting things to do in the diverse, colorful district. The new website, created with vibrant and eye-catching colors and images, directs visitors to various things available: eating, shopping, playing, services, events, news, the neighborhood, and doing business.

The website highlights several areas in the district, including Chinatown, Japantown, Little Saigon, and the Filipino community. Each subsection of the website provides intriguing insight into the past of each community, explaining the history behind each cultures’ presence in Seattle.

See the site for yourself to experience the fresh look and to explore what awaits you in the Chinatown/International District. Email info@seattlechinatownid.com if you have any questions, or see the SCIDpda page.

JamFest, a monthly music and art celebration, will be taking place two more times. Don’t miss out on the excitement! Come explore the neighborhood like never before. Hear musicians at the Wing Luke Museum and at local businesses, win prizes, see art in galleries or experience dance in Hing Hay Park. The dates for the upcoming JamFests are tonight, August 5th and September 2nd. The cost to attend varies. For a single event, the cost is $8.00 for general admission and $5.00 for Wing Luke Museum members. Season passes are also available for purchase.

Award-winning Cuban jazz, classic rock favorites and traditional French music will move both your soul and feet at Columbia City’s next BeatWalk festival on Friday, August 13th. BeatWalk is a local event hosted by the businesses and restaurants of historic Columbia City. BeatWalk is focused on highlighting the diversity of the Rainier Valley community through a variety of musical entertainment. The date for the last Columbia City’s BeatWalk is September 10th. The cost is $7.00, but there is free admission for kids.

Click here for more information and to view the line-up of performers.

Pike Pine’s 12th Avenue will serve up the flavors of the neighborhood in its first annual street festival. Taste bites from Seattle’s most eclectic mix of local premier dining venues (for $5.00 or less), savor live music, and appreciate the character of independent neighborhood merchants and entrepreneurs as they showcase their wares and services.